Sentencings scheduled for later

February 10, 2014|By Jessica Anderson, The Baltimore Sun

Two Baltimore police officers were found guilty Monday on charges related to the assault of a man who attempted to hide in the home of one officer's girlfriend after he fled from police during a 2011 drug arrest.

Sgt. Marinos N. Gialamas and Officer Anthony Williams were convicted in the case of Antoine Douglas Green, who prosecutors said broke into the woman's home as he attempted to flee police. Officers took him into custody before Williams, who was off duty at the time, came to the scene.

Police had put Green into a department vehicle, prosecutors said, but Gialamas had him taken back into the home in the 2200 block of Prentiss Place in East Baltimore. Officers then assaulted him, according to court testimony.

Prosecutors later dropped drug charges against Green amid an investigation into the officers' conduct.

Williams, 38, was accused of instructing his girlfriend, who was at home with her son at the time of the incident, to lie to a detective during an internal affairs review.

The six-year veteran was charged with obstructing and hindering an investigation and with second-degree assault. He was convicted of both charges and is scheduled to be sentenced April 16.

Gialamas, 41, a 19-year veteran, was cleared of an assault charge but found guilty of malfeasance in office.

He is scheduled to be sentenced March 24.

"I think that verdict reflects the fact that when it comes to the law, police officers are ordinary citizens regardless of what their personal motives might be," Baltimore State's Attorney Gregg L. Bernstein said.

He commended the officers who worked the internal affairs investigation, noting they face the same pressures as nonpolice witnesses when testifying against defendants in court.

"We hold every member of our force to the highest professional and ethical standards. That's what the people of Baltimore expect and deserve, and it is what I demand" Commissioner Anthony W. Batts said in a statement. "We will continue to work toward reforming the organization and holding our officers accountable."